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Motoring

New vehicle sales in South Africa - November 2008

by Press Release

03 December 2008

November, 2008 NAAMSA reported new car sales at 20 128 units reflected a decline of 9 210 or 31,4% compared to the 29 338 new cars sold during November, 2007. Factoring in the new car sales not reported in detail, the year on year decline had amounted to 11 096 units or a fall of 33,6%. The latest sales represented the worst monthly new car market in the past five years.

In amplification of the new vehicle sales statistics for the month of November, 2008 – released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) – the Association commented that sales in all segments of the South African new vehicle market had weakened significantly suggesting that conditions in the South African economy had continued to deteriorate rapidly. In the event, aggregate new vehicle sales, reported through NAAMSA, at 34 176 units had registered a decline of 13 497 units or 28,3% compared to the 47 673 vehicles sold during the corresponding month last year. Aggregate NAAMSA sales for the first eleven months of 2008 were 20,7% lower than the sales recorded during the corresponding eleven months in 2007.

Overall, out of the total NAAMSA reported industry sales of 34 176 vehicles, 77,9% or 26 613 units represented dealer/retail sales, 8,9% sales to Government, 7,7% represented sales to the car rental industry and 5,5% into industry’s corporate fleets.

Sales of NAAMSA new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and minibuses at 11 489 units during November, 2008 reflected a decline of 3 475 units or 23,2% compared to the 14 964 unit sales during the corresponding month last year. Taking account of the light commercial vehicles sales reported by the AMH Group, the year on year decline amounted to 3 820 units or 23,9%.

Sales of vehicles in the medium and heavy truck/bus segments of the industry had also registered sharp falls during November, 2008 and at 868 units and 1 691 units, respectively, had recorded a massive decline of 372 units or 30,0%, in the case of medium commercials, and 440 units or 20,6%, in the case of heavy trucks and buses – compared to the corresponding month last year.

The latest sales data of heavy truck and extra heavy commercial vehicles suggested that despite the major infrastructural investment projects, fixed investment in the South African economy had started to moderate.

In sharp contrast to the depressed domestic market, exports of South African produced motor vehicles during November, 2008 reflected continued strong upward momentum rising to a record monthly total of 31 557 export sales. This represented an improvement of 14 616 vehicles or 86,3% compared to the 16 941 vehicles exported during November last year. On a year to date basis export sales reflected an impressive year on year improvement of 73,1%. Vehicle exports for 2008 as a whole were now projected to reach about 295 000 units.

Whilst the industry’s export performance during 2008 had been most encouraging lending support to the component and vehicle manufacturing industries, the economic slow down in the United States, the European Union and Japan – all important markets for South African automotive exporters – was likely to impact on vehicle and component exports during 2009. The overall effect would depend on the extent and duration of a recession in the developed markets but this would be counter balanced by expected continued growth in emerging markets. Current indications were that overall new vehicle exports during 2009 could register a decline of about 15% on the 2008 figure.

The South African automotive new and used vehicle retail sector continued to experience severe financial distress. The combined impact of recent above average vehicle price inflation, the high interest rate environment, the negative wealth effect as a result of falling house prices and asset values, sharp falls in business confidence and consumer sentiment was expected to continue to exert further pressure on domestic sales. Hopefully, as general inflationary pressures had started to abate, interest rate relief would follow suit. Even if the monetary authorities implemented reductions in interest rates in the coming months, trading conditions in the domestic market were only expected to show an improvement from the second half of 2009 onwards.

BMW GROUP 1 467 (Export – 8 325)

BMW

1-Series - 195; 3-Series – 874 (Export – 8 325); 5-Series - 56; 6-Series - 7; 7-Series - 21; X3 - 62; X5 – 117; X6 – 26; Z4 – 11

Mini

Cooper – 98

Chana 214

Benni - 50

LCV: Maxi –7; Rainbow – 9; Star- 148

Chery SA 212

J5 – 3; QQ3 –168; Tiggo – 41

Chrysler SA 341 (Export - 15)

Chrysler

300C – 1; PT Cruiser – 3; PT Cruiser Cabrio – 1; Sebring – 17; Sebring Convertible – 3; Voyager – 41

Dodge

Caliber – 81; Journey – 50; Nitro – 19 (Export – 4)

Jeep

Cherokee – 20; Commander – 11 (Export – 6); Compass – 9; Grand Cherokee – 16 (Export – 2); Patriot – 16; Wrangler – 53 (Export – 1)

Ferrari (Export – 1)

Ferrari F430 (Export – 1)

Fiat Group 213

Alfa

147 – 3; 159 – 4; GT – 2; Spider - 3

Fiat

500 – 5; Bravo – 2; Grande Punto – 4; Palio II – 101; Panda – 11; Stilo – 3; Uno - 5

LCV: Scudo – 1; Strada – 56; Uno – 1

MCV: Ducato –12

FMC 3 351 (Export – 3 619)

Ford

Fiesta – 412; Focus – 245 (Export – 1 515); Ikon – 71 (Export – 2); Ka - 9; Territory – 9

LCV: Bantam – 506 (Export – 14); Ranger – 851 (Export – 2 052)

Mazda

Mazda2 – 250; Mazda3 – 222; Mazda5 – 73; Mazda6 – 64; CX-7 – 5; MX-5 –1; RX-8 - 1

LCV: BT-50 – 493 (Export – 36)

Volvo

C30 – 15; C70 – 4; S40 – 85; S60 – 9; S80 – 6; V50 – 12; XC70 – 3; XC90 – 5

GMSA 4 323 (Export – 1 097)

Cadillac

BLS -10; CTS – 6; SRX – 7

Chevrolet

Aveo – 354; Captiva – 176 (Export – 5); Lumina – 9; Optra – 9; Spark – 104

LCV: Lumina – 10

Hummer

H3 – 39 (Export – 879)

Isuzu

LCV: KB – 1 208 (Export – 184)

MCV: N-Series – 138 (Export – 4)

HCV: F-Series – 111 (Export – 11)

Extra Heavy: F-Series – 56; Gigamax - 2

Opel

Astra/GTC – 104; Corsa – 429; Meriva – 12; Zafira – 21

LCV: Combo – 4; Corsa Utility – 1 492 (Export – 12); Vivaro – 5

SAAB

SAAB9-3 – 12 (Export – 2)

Gonow 65

LCV: X-Space – 60; Hafei Loda - 5

Honda 1 130

Accord – 124; Civic –227; CR-V – 177; FR-V – 36; Jazz – 565; S2000 - 1

Iveco 193 (Export – 31)

MCV: Daily –77

HCV: Eurocargo – (Export – 6)

Extra Heavy: Stralis – 44; Trakker – 1 (Export – 25)

Bus: Iveco Bus - 71

Jaguar Land Rover 372

Jaguar

X-type – 26; XF – 41; XJ – 1; XK – 4

Land Rover

Defender – 44; Discovery 3 – 119; Freelander 2 –43; Range Rover – 12; Range Rover Sport – 64

LCV: Defender - 18

Lamborghini 2

Gallardo -2

Mahindra 101

Scorpio –18

LCV: Bolero – 41; Scorpio Pik-Up – 42

MAN 190 (Export – 6)

HCV: TGM - 6

Extra Heavy: CLA – 14; TGA – 87 (Export – 6); TGM – 26

Bus: MAN Bus – 57

McCarthy 60

Meiya Wagon - 9

LCV: Foton View –40; Meiya Pickup – 11

Mercedes-Benz SA 2 682 (Export – 4 829)

Mercedes

A-Class –175; B-Class – 82; C-Class –950 (Export – 4 807); CLK – 6; CLS – 6; E-Class – 52; GL-Class – 11; M-Class – 123; R-Class – 2; S-Class – 21; SL – 1; SLK – 17; Viano – 9; Vito – 56

LCV: Vito – 22

MCV: Fuso Canter – 41; Sprinter – 106 (Export – 1)

HCV: Fuso HCV – 40; Atego – 37 (Export – 5)

Extra Heavy: F-L Argosy – 135; F-L Columbia – 19; FUSO XHCV – 24; Actros – 84 (Export – 7); Axor2 – 87 (Export – 4)

Bus: Mercedes Bus – 18 (Export – 5)

Mitsubishi

Lancer – 79; Outlander –44; Pajero – 86

LCV: Colt - 175; Triton – 153

Smart

Fortwo – 21

Nissan 2 790 (Export - 624)

350Z – 4; Livina – 327; Micra – 42; Murano – 23; Pathfinder –16 (Export – 7);Patrol SW – 6; Qashqai – 139 (Export – 1); Tiida –389 (Export – 11); X-Trail – 68

LCV: 1400 – 35 (Export – 22); Hardbody – 660 (Export – 583); Navara – 188; NP200 – 81; Patrol PU – 47; Primastar – 11

MCV: Interstar – 17

Nissan Diesel 345 (Export – 11)

MCV: UD - 52; Cabstar – 18

HCV: UD – 185 (Export – 4)

Extra Heavy: UD – 90 (Export – 7)

Navistar International 88

Extra Heavy: I-N 7400 – 2; I-N 7600 – 4; I-N 9800 - 82

Peugeot 180

Peugeot 107 – 8; Peugeot 207 – 103; Peugeot 308 - 47; Peugeot 407 – 4

LCV: Expert – 3; Partner – 11

MCV: Boxer – 4

Porsche 36

911 – 13; Cayenne – 23

Renault 393 (Export – 10)

Clio – 10; Clio III –87; Grand Scenic - 3; Koleos – 27; Logan – 176; Megane II –38; Scenic II – 15; Twingo - 30

LCV: Kangoo – 7 (Export – 10)

Renault Trucks (Export – 25)

Extra Heavy: Kerax (Export – 25)

Scania 96 ( Export – 26)

Extra Heavy: 12 Litre (Export – 1); 9 Litre – (Export – 1); G-Series – 27 (Export – 4); P-Series –5; R-Series - 38

Bus: Scania Bus – 26 (Export – 20)

Subaru 69

Forester – 32; Impreza – 22; Legacy – 7; Outback – 4; Tribeca – 4

Super Group 23

Extra Heavy: Powerstar BeiBen – 21; Powerstar Shaanxi - 2

Suzuki Auto 417

Grand Vitara – 36; Jimny – 81; Swift – 163; SX4 - 137

Tata 363

Indica/Indigo/B-Line – 151; Safari – 2

LCV: Telcoline – 37; Worker – 30; Xenon – 17

MCV: LPK – 1; Mcv – 77; SK - 1

HCV: LPK – 3; LPT – 16

Extra Heavy: LPT – 9; Novus – 19

Toyota 9 005 (Export – 8 612)

Lexus

GS – 24; IS – 74; LS – 6; RX – 19; SC - 1

Toyota

Avanza – 413; Avensis – 33; Corr/RunX/Vers/Auri – 1 324 (Export – 3 638); Fortuner – 281 (Export – 125); Landcruiser 200 – 73; Prado – 83; Prius – 1; RAV – 61; Yaris – 2 125

LCV: Avanza – 28; Hilux – 2 283 (Export – 4 849); Landcruiser PU – 198; Landcruiser SW – 31; Quantum – 1 537

MCV: Dyna – 231

HCV: Hino Super F-Series – 142

Extra Heavy: Hino 700 Series – 24; Hino Super F-Series –13

Volvo Trucks 47 (Export – 43)

Extra Heavy: FE – 13; FH – 32 (Export – 35); FM – 2 (Export – 8)

Volkswagen 5 408 (Export – 4 283)

Audi

A3/Sportback – 200; A4/Avant – 458; A5 – 38; A6/Allroad/Avant – 30; A8 – 2; Q7 – 32; R8 – 13 (Export – 1); TT – 31

Seat

Altea – 16; Ibiza – 37; Leon –36

Caddy – 25; CitiGolf – 1 410; Eos – 10; Golf A5/Jetta A5 – 496 (Export – 2 761); Passat – 17; Polo/Classic – 2 096 (Export – 1 499); Sharan – 1; T5 Caravelle/Kombi – 61; Tiguan –70; Touareg – 24; Touran – 10

LCV: Caddy – 102; T5 Transporter Cr-Bus – 37; T5 Transporter P-Van – 31; T5 Transporter PU – 15

MCV: Crafter – 93 (Export -1)

HCV: Constellation – 1

Extra Heavy: Constellation – 7

Bus: Volksbus – 9 (Export – 21)

Associated Motor Holdings 2 462

Small cars (cubic capacity 1 400cc or less) – 910

Medium cars (cubic capacity 1 400cc – 2 500cc) – 277

Large cars (cubic capacity 2 500cc or greater) – 155

4x4 recreational/ SUV- 473

Light commercial vehicles – 647